Center back Bobby Burling returned to the fields on Sunday night in a 1-1 draw with Colorado Rapids, after the player was nursing a concussion for the past three weeks.

Burling came in as a sub for midfielder Carlos Alvarez as an intent by Chivas USA to keep the 1-1 draw that Colorado had recently got in the 80th minute.

“Going into the mix with six, seven, eight minutes left is a difficult task,” explained the center back. “It’s hard to adjust to the pace of the game and you just hope to come in with energy and some spark to be able to help with whatever is needed.”

Being able to accomplish his goal and finishing Sunday’s match in a draw, the center back turned into a key piece to Monday’s Major League Soccer Reserves League match. To Burling and Chivas’ misfortune, the player suffered a collision with a Colorado attacker, where Burling’s head got kicked with the forward’s cleats.

“I felt pretty good. I came back from a concussion and just like that I got kicked in the head in the last play there, so for precautionary matters, they kept me away from the game and from coming right back in, but I felt pretty good to get some fitness back and to get back into the group and it definitely felt good to play a game,” explained Burling after the match.

With Burling’s exit and Colorado’s subs coming in at full speed, the 1-0 lead the Red-and-White had until then also vanished. In a matter of two minutes, two goals by the Rapids set the final score in the visitors’ favor.

“I think first half we played pretty well, we had a couple of chances and we put away one. In the second half we lost our shape a little bit and our pressure on the ball was better in the first half. We held our shape though, but unfortunately last couple of plays their subs came in and made a difference and we conceded two late goals. We were the better team, so it’s unfortunate to lose, but I think we actually played pretty well,” described Burling.

Once the medical staff gives the defender the clearance, Burling will be able to return to the field and to training as usual with the team ahead of Wednesday, Aug. 21, game against FC Dallas at the StubHub Center.

“It’s a good opportunity, we have had some good results against them this year and this is the third time we are playing them, so hopefully we can get some more points off them as well,” concluded Burling for cdchivasusa.com.